Authors Purpose

Modes of Writing

Three Reasons for Writing

1. To Inform (Expository)
2. To Persuade (Persuasive)
3. Entertain (Narrative or Poetry)

Writing to Inform
Often called expository writing.
Expository writing shows or explains facts.

Examples:
Biography of Barack Obama
News report about a shooting
Note to a friend
Essay about killer bees
Remember: Expository = Expose

Writing to Persuade
Attempts to influence the reader.
Usually makes an argument.

Examples:
Political speeches
Advertisements
A cover letter for your resume
An essay urging readers to recycle

Writing to Entertain
Narratives: stories.
Have a beginning, middle, and end
A story may have a lesson, but the
authors main purpose is to entertain.

Examples of Writing to Entertain

Harry Potter books
Poems about love
Narrative essay about the big game
Script for a TV show

Is it a story, poem, or drama (script)?

Yes

No

Does the text make arguments?

Yes

No

Does the text give facts?

Yes

Entertain

Persuade

No

Inform

Start
Over

Review
Informative or expository writing
provides factual information about a topic.
Persuasive writing expresses an opinion
(may use facts to support).
All narratives are written to entertain, but
so is poetry.

Practice
You will be graded on participation
and completion, not on accuracy.
1. On a separate sheet of paper, number
one through ten.
2. I will describe a piece of writing.
3. You will write the authors purpose: to
inform, persuade, or entertain.

1
The story of a teenage boy learning to
understand and live with his father, who is
an alcoholic Vietnam war veteran.

2
A list of the 25 richest athletes in the world.

3
An article arguing why Michael Jordan is
the greatest basketball player ever.

4
An X-men comic book.

5
The story about a young girl with low selfesteem learning to love herself.

6
A National Geographic article about the
eating and breeding habits of the
endangered bald eagle.

7
A website saying that a new shopping mall
should not be built because it threatens an
endangered bald eagles home. The
website also lists other reasons why the
mall should not be built.

8
A poem about bald eagles.

9
A magazine ad telling you to buy Nike
Hyperdunk shoes because youll jump
higher.

10
A sign saying, Rest Stop Five Miles Ahead.

Answers
1. Entertain
2. Inform
3. Persuade
4. Entertain
5. Entertain
6. Inform
7. Persuade
8. Entertain
9. Persuade
10. Inform